Erik Bataller

About Erik Bataller

I\'ve spent 25+ years building and scaling cybersecurity programs for organizations that can\'t afford to get it wrong—from financial institutions protecting billions in assets to technology companies preparing for IPOs. Whether I\'m serving as a board advisor, leading enterprise security organizations, or partnering with executives on risk strategy, my focus is the same: translating complex security challenges into business outcomes.My career has evolved from hands-on technical roles to strategic leadership positions where I partner with boards, executives, founders and cross-functional teams to embed security into how organizations operate. I\'ve led security through major inflection points—M&A due diligence, IPO readiness, cloud transformations, and regulatory compliance initiatives—always focused on enabling business growth while managing risk.I believe the best security leaders lead through influence rather than authority. That means building trust with skeptical stakeholders, fostering psychological safety so teams can surface problems early, and being comfortable admitting when I\'m wrong. Whether designing risk-based security strategies, optimizing budgets, or mentoring senior talent, I focus on creating environments where people do their best work and security becomes a competitive advantage, not a barrier.Some highlights: I\'ve led security for a company through a successful IPO, built a comprehensive cloud security program for a major financial institution, and served as acting CISO for mid-market organizations navigating complex compliance requirements. I\'ve also had the privilege of serving on advisory boards and advising executive teams on cybersecurity strategy, helping them understand not just the \"what\" but the \"why\" and \"how\" of security investments.My core areas of expertise include cybersecurity strategy and governance, cloud security architecture, risk management and compliance, security operations and incident response, M&A security due diligence, and executive stakeholder engagement. I\'m particularly passionate about the intersection of security and business transformation—helping organizations adopt new technologies securely and building security programs that scale.I\'m drawn to mission-driven organizations where security is foundational to trust and operational resilience. If you\'re looking for a security leader who can balance strategic vision with operational excellence, or need a trusted advisor for complex risk decisions, let\'s connect.

Experience

1. Customer Advisory Board Member

   Cyera

   Mar 2022 — Present

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  BA in women's studies

  1989 — 1992